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Overview
The comparisons with former Tech receiver and current New England Patriot Wes Welker are inevitable. Welker's success makes Amendola's slot receiver skill set more attractive to NFL scouts than ever. He'll likely test better in straight-line running drills than Welker did coming out of college, although he is not as strong or explosive with the ball. At any rate, Amendola made his own name as a second-team All-Big 12 receiver in 2007 with 109 catches for 1,245 yards. He also returned 116 punts for 1,283 yards (11.1 per) and a score in four years with those duties.
Analysis
Positives: Good short-area quickness Catches balls with his hands in most instances Able to quickly stop and get out of his route, often leaving his corner reeling backwards as he makes the catch on a square-in or similar pattern Tightropes the sidelines when necessary Excelled in Tech's offense as a slot receiver finding holes in zones, where he'll likely make his money in the NFL Solid punt returner with good hands and limits mental errors.
Negatives: Looks more like a kicker than a receiver with a thin build, short arms and small hands Can lose concentration over the middle if in the presence of physical safeties Won't worry many corners or safeties with his blocking, although he gives good effort Lacks the upper body strength to sustain those blocks or get off press coverage Is not explosive with the ball in his hands, getting a quick burst but lacking a second gear after the reception or on punt returns.
High School
The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas Three-Star Recruit (TheInsiders.com) Three-Star Recruit (Rivals.com) No. 51 wide receiver in the nation (Rivals.com) No. 80 wide receiver in the nation (SuperPrep.com) No. 58 overall prospect in Texas (Dallas Morning News) No. 77 overall prospect in Texas (Rivals.com) No. 97 overall prospect in the nation (Big 12 Insiders Top 100) No. 97 overall prospect in Texas (Texas Insiders Top 100) State Top 100 (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) PrepStar All-Region Team First-Team All-State (Texas Sports Writers Association) Team finished the 2003 season ranked 20th nationally by USA Today The Woodlands advanced to Class 5A championship game Class 5A Region II Player of the Week after catching nine passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in second round of playoffs against Temple Finished senior season with 60 receptions for 864 yards and nine touchdowns Caught 60 passes for 985 yards and eight touchdowns in 2002 Also registered 120 kickoff return yards and 315 punt return yards as a junior First-team all-district punt returner and second-team all-district wide receiver as a junior 4.65 in the 40 Benches 275, squats 350 and has a 33-inch vertical Also recruited by Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan and Texas A&M High School Coach: Weldon Willig.
Personal
Danny Amendola Born November 2, 1985, in The Woodlands, Texas Son of Rose and Willie Amendola Has an older brother, Matt.
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